I'd take Erat for Kovalev! All day, any day.

Did not realize there were a lot of players missing, and to be completely honest i have no idea who actually said that. I don't see it as misleading as I saw nothing else on that thread other than the numbers there.
If you go back to my original statement, i am on board the trade kuba bandwagon, i just think this is worthy of turning a couple heads. However, i must also say trading him for just a mediocre D man will hurt us right now as he is effective on the PP. Again, just think it's something to consider, but i'm not sold. Just think it's a good post

So I'm a bit disappointed with the waiving of Cheechoo, if only because I think he still had the potential to upgrade a trade package. With him and Picard out, and Cullen in, I think the best PLAYOFF lineup is:

Cullen - Spezza - Alfredsson
Michalek - Fisher - Kovalev
Foligno - Kelly - Neil
Ruutu - Regin - Shannon

Phillips - Volchenkov
Kuba - Karlsson
Campoli - Carkner

Leclaire
Elliott

The trade that would put us over the top is, IMO, not a tough call. We've already tried dealing with the Oilers, and they've never been more in a selling position than they are now.

To Ottawa: Dustin Penner, Robert Nilsson, Lubomir Visnovsky
To Edmonton: Chris Kelly, Ryan Shannon, Filip Kuba, Pascal Leclaire

Penner - Spezza - Alfredsson
Michalek - Fisher - Kovalev
Foligno - Cullen - Nilsson
Ruutu - Regin - Neil

Visnovsky - Karlsson
Phillips - Volchenkov
Campoli - Carkner

Elliott
Brodeur

Yeah, yeah. Don't give up on "glass" Leclaire. Just compare the first lineup to the second one.

(Penner > Kelly, Nilsson > Shannon, Visnovsky > Kuba, Elliott ~ Leclaire) -- you do the math.

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That's a LOT of pressure on Elliott.

I want Vokoun!

Vokoun is such an underrated goalie, it's amazing that he still doesn't get the recognition he deserves, even when he has 7 shutouts this year on a bad Florida team.

he get's like 40 shots a game too, not to mention he has to dodge his own players' sticks in the process

Vokoun says he'll waive his NTC if the situation is right. Can anyone imagine a better goalie to pick up for a playoff run right now?

I think he's too expensive cap-wise for the Sens though...

I wonder what the asking price for Vokoun would be. Such an underrated goaltender, top 7 in the NHL.

You'd have to start with a 1st rounder, wouldn't you?

Definitely. And that'd just be to get Sexton to stay on the phone.

No first rounder (at least), no Vokoun.

He makes 6.3 mill this year lol

And the way he's playing, he's one of the few who is worth his contract.

There's NO other reason the Panthers are even CLOSE to contention.

He'd be awsome to get I agree

Apparently he was asked to waive his NMC and he wouldn't.

SUN-SENTINEL.COM: Steve Gorten reports Panthers goalie Tomas Vokoun said he's consider waiving his "no-trade" clause if asked depending on the situation. Gorten also speculated which Panthers might not be dealt, listing David Booth, Michael Frolik and Dmitry Kulikov as probably being "safe". He also doesn't see Nathan Horton being shopped since Sexton recently said no trade would be as big as getting the injured Horton back in the lineup. Stephen Weiss might be a possibility although the club is already thin at center. Gorten believes Radek Dvorak or Cory Stillman could possibly be moved but believed Vokoun is the best trade chip, along with Dennis Seidenberg and Jordan Leopold.

SPECTOR'S NOTE: Keep an eye on the Panthers following the Olympic break as it's obvious Sexton has more moves in store for his club.

Spector's Hockey - Latest Panthers and Senators News.

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Trades:

Ottawa gets: Tomas Vokoun=5.7
Florida gets: Pascal Leclaire, 2nd rounder, Lee=5

Ottawa standpoint: Elliot is doing amazing, but come on, is he the one? The one that will guide us and make those unreal game-changing saves? He may be...but in a couple years from now. Vokoun is the ultimate goaltender to have on a deep playoff run.

Florida standpoint: Vokoun will not be a huge loss for them if they loose him because of their sensational rookie goaltender: Jakob Markstrom who is destroying the SEL league and is considered the best goalie in Europe. Though, like Giguere with Gustavssen, they will need a goaltender to play as the number 1 until Markstrom adapts to the NA snipers. Why not Vokoun you may ask? Because when Leclaire's contract is up, they can sign him for much less and have a solid 1-2 punch in net, unlike Vokoun who will still have a pretty high contract. They also get a solid defenceman who has the potential to be a top 4 defenceman in the NHL and a solid draft pick for a rebuilding team.

Ottawa gets: Penner, Smid=5.6
Edmonton gets: Kuba, Kelly, Foligno, Wiercioch=6.75

Ottawa Standpoint: Murray loves acquiring players he drafted/signed and Penner is no exception. He can dominate physically and will be a huge push for the Sens cup run. Smid is the top 4 defenceman they always wanted. Murray tried getting him before because he loves defenceman who have both offensive and defensive upside.

Edmonton Stanpoint: Oilers aren't clicking at all and this trade helps them in a lot of aspects. Kuba replaces Smid on the blueline while Kelly helps get them that defensive specialist they needed badly. Foligno is a young speedy player just like any other oiler but is a powerforward, something they drastically need. Weircioch has the potential to be a number 1 defenceman and will help them if they also move Souray, Visnovksy etc...

Penner-Spezza-Alfredsson
Michalek-Cullen-Kovalev
Shannon-Fisher-Regin
Ruutu-Winchester-Neil

Smid-Karlsson
Phillips-Volchenkov
Campoli-Carkner

Vokoun
Elliot

TOTAL CAP: 53.75 MIL

We let Campoli walk in offseason, Regin and Shannon signed long-term but not a huge upgrade, we re-sign Cullen but for a lil less.

Next years Lineup:

Penner-Spezza-Alfredsson=16.25
Michalek-Cullen-Kovalev=11.75
Regin-Fisher-Shannon=6
Ruutu-Winchester-Neil=4.2

Smid-Karlsson=2.8
Phillips-Volchenkov=7.5
Cowen-Carkner=1.8

Vokoun=6.3
Elliot=0.850

Total CAP: 57 MIL.

Regin and Shannon both re-sign for 1.5
Cullen re-signs for 2.5
Volchenkov re-signs for 4 mil

After that season, when we have to sign long-term guys like Smid, Kovalev will leave allowing us to have more cap space.

Can you ask for a better playoff team? I am serious...

Thoughts?

Note: If you guys believe that Florida does not need another goalie and what not, you can easily mix up both trades and can be something like:

To Edmonton: Pascal Leclaire, Kelly, 2nd rounder, Lee=7
To Ottawa: Penner, Smid=5.6

To Florida: Wiercioch, Filip Kuba, Nick Foligno=5
To Ottawa: Tomas Vokoun=5.7

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F**k Smid

This should be a pretty clear indication that Florida mean business re-tooling their squad.

A Letter From The Owners - Florida Panthers - News

Why so? He has magnificent potential and is a +5 on a disgusting team.

To Florida: Wiercioch, Filip Kuba, Nick Foligno=5
To Ottawa: Tomas Vokoun=5.7

This can be an excellent trade for Florida to shake things up.

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Leclaire HAS to go the other way if we're going to acquire a high-priced goalie.